Hoka/Canva

Hoka Tecton X 4 | £220 | Tester: Laura Fountain

A comfortable and stable carbon trail shoe that doesn’t feel overly aggressive.

The HOKA Tecton X 4 is the latest version of the brand’s carbon-plated trail racing shoe, designed for going fast over long distances. It combines a dual-layer PEBA midsole with parallel carbon-fibre plates, a Vibram Megagrip outsole and an integrated gaiter to keep debris out.

Despite all that race-focused technology, I haven’t found it particularly aggressive to run in. Instead, it feels comfortable, fairly stable and gives you a good sense of what’s happening underneath your feet, making it surprisingly approachable for a carbon-plated trail shoe.

HOKA Tecton X 4 technical details

Price: £220
Sizes: UK 4-9
Weight: 234g
Drop: 5mm
Lugs: 4mm
Stack: 40mm

Image: HOKA

HOKA Tecton X 4 pros and cons

Pros

• Comfortable and stable
• Integrated gaiter does a great job of keeping debris out
• Good balance of cushioning and ground feel

Cons

• Laces need more grip
• Gaiter makes them fiddly to get on

Who and what is this shoe for?

The Hoka Tecton X 4 is designed primarily as a long-distance trail racing shoe. The midsole uses two layers of PEBA foam with parallel carbon-fibre plates between them, while 4mm lugs and a Vibram Megagrip outsole provide the grip. Despite the carbon plates, this isn’t a trail shoe that feels overly aggressive in its propulsion, making it quite versatile.

How does the Hoka Tecton X 4 fit?

The integrated gaiter makes the Tecton X 4 a little fiddly to get on, but once my foot was in place it felt nice and snug. The height and width of the gaiter were a good fit for me, although I think runners with wider ankles might find it a little tight. It did exactly what I wanted it to, though. I didn’t get any loose stones or dirt inside the shoe while I was running and it was comfortable around my ankle.

Is it comfortable?

The Tecton X 4 feels really comfortable underfoot. There’s a little bit of squish from the PEBA foam, but not too much, which is something I appreciate in a trail shoe. I noticed the cushioning most when I hit sections of road, where you can feel that softer, bouncier side of the midsole. Once I was back on the trails, I could still get a good sense of the ground underneath me rather than feeling completely disconnected from it by the cushioning and carbon plates.

Image: Laura Fountain

Hoka Tecton X 4 run test

What surprised me about the Tecton X 4 was how natural it felt to run in. With two carbon plates and a PEBA midsole, you might expect a very aggressive, propulsive ride, but that’s not really what I experienced. There’s some response when you pick up the pace, but the plates don’t dominate the ride. Instead, I found the shoe fairly stable and easy to control, which is particularly important when you’re running over uneven ground.

I’ve tested it on paths and muddy trails, although conditions have so far been fairly hard and dry. The 4mm lugs have given me good grip on the surfaces I’ve run on, but I haven’t had the chance to test them in properly wet mud yet, so I can’t comment on how they’ll perform when conditions get really slippery.

There’s a good balance between cushioning and being able to feel the trail beneath your feet.

Where can I buy it?

The Hoka Tecton X 4 is available from Hoka and selected retailers.

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